Refreshing Ideas for a Joyful Life

The Simple Reason Your New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Stick. Here’s How to Change.

Picture this: Your computer is running so sluggish these days. It’s not time for a new one. But, everything you try to do on it takes sooo long and you’re constantly wasting time just sitting and waiting in front of it.

It’s the end of 2017 and the start of 2018 and you want to have a fresh, efficient, productive new year ahead. Something’s got to change with this computer. So, what do you do? Do you purchase a bunch of new programs for projects you want to work on in the new year? Do you decide you’re going to get up earlier every day, so you can have more time to sit and wait for it to constantly think? Do you shine it up and buy some cool new computer accessories?

No. What you really do with your slow, inefficient computer is get into it’s operating system. You see what’s bogging it down and start clearing it all out. Whether it’s a storage space issue or a virus or old program’s not running properly – you get in there and get to its core.

Bingo! It’s the same for us. To make any lasting changes in our lives, we’ve got to get to our operating systems – our subconscious minds. There’s no way around it. Now, before you hit that ‘back’ button because you are not into psychological mumbo jumbo – you just want practical, inspirational advice on how to get better, just hear me out.

All the general advice out there on willpower and time-management and goal setting – it’s what I like to call all ‘outside’ advice. It has its place, but its not getting to the root of anything. All lasting change in your life – everything – whether big or small – every habit, every situation, every level of success and happiness – all come from your subconscious mind. It holds the key to everything in your life!

It is one big storage house of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, felt, thought, experienced, etc. And you’re continually installing thoughts into it every day with all that you think and feel. And here’s two figures that will grab you: It is 95% more powerful than your conscious mind and an average person has over 50,000 thoughts a day.

Before you start thinking that you couldn’t possibly begin getting into your subconscious mind; that you’re not into weird practices and rituals; that you just want to learn how to finally lose weight or exercise more or be a more self-disciplined person or whatever – just give me a few more minutes.

Your subconscious mind is that storage house I mentioned, and it essentially thinks in pictures and feelings. Do you want to be a more self-disciplined person, for instance?Then the pictures you have currently in your mind are of you as a person that is not self-disciplined. For whatever reason, stemming from your childhood or wherever, deep down you don’t see yourself as a person who really gets things done. No matter how hard you’ve tried through the years to really change this, aside from making some progress at times, you seem to always fall short of your goals.

How do you become a more self-disciplined person? Start seeing yourself as the person you want to be. Start seeing yourself as that person who gets things done every day – who consistently accomplishes their goals. Close your eyes right now and take ten seconds to see yourself at the end of 2018 as this new person. Picture yourself having a toast with a family member or friend next December celebrating how much you’ve accomplished this year. And as you do this simple visualization, also FEEL what it feels like to be there next year. FEEL the sense of accomplishment; FEEL the pride; FEEL your body in that moment. Even imagine what the glass of champagne feels like in your hand, how the champagne tastes and smells, the sound of the glasses clinking together, what the room is like that you’re in, etc.

Also take a few seconds right now to picture a different scene. See and feel yourself getting up earlier every morning and working out. What does that look like? How does it feel? The quietness of the morning, the taste of the fresh glass of water, the humming of your exercise bike, the feel of your muscles tightening, etc. Now, see yourself in your leaner body next summer. How does it feel to be stronger, lighter, more agile – because you’re reaching your fitness goals?

“Feeling is the secret.”Neville Goddard

This is the trick to accomplishing all your goals. SEEING and FEELING. Get into your subconscious mind this way and see your life start changing for the better.

Can you tell how easy it is? But, let me give you a little caveat: it’s easy, but it’s not fast. Let’s put it this way – you’ve been thinking the same thoughts and having the same images and feelings about yourself for years and years. So, replacing the old worn out ones that have not been serving you well and replacing them with bright, powerful images is going to take some time. And it’s going to take plenty of daily repetition.

The way to get into your subconscious mind is to just get into relaxed states and plant these new images and feelings into it. Take ten minutes each morning and night, for instance. YouTube a guided meditation that will help you get into this nice relaxed state. Then start seeing yourself in your goals and make sure to turn up the volume on the feelings. It will seem awkward at first, but, like anything, practice will make you better at it.

And, one last thing. Start becoming aware of the images that pop up in your mind during the day. They come so fast and are so fleeting, but they are powerful. If you have not been able to accomplish many of your goals through the years, these images around those goals, no doubt, have been negative. Start being aware of them and change them to positive ones.

So, just start plugging away at these new practices. And if you want to learn more about how to reprogram your subconscious mind to become a happier person, read my book, Simply Being Happy.

Here’s to a Fun, Happy, Healthy New Year!

Paula Sullivan is the founder of the website www.simplybeinghappy.com and author of the book, Simply Being Happy – 93 Ways to Replace Worry with Peace and Create a Joyful Life.